Native Adenovirus Type 2 (Strain Adenoid 6) Antigen

Main conclusion CYP722C from cotton, a homolog of the enzyme involved in orobanchol synthesis in cowpea and tomato, catalyzes the conversion of carlactonoic acid to 5-deoxystrigol. Strigolactones (SLs) are important phytohormones with roles in the regulation of plant growth and development. These compounds also function as signaling molecules in the rhizosphere by interacting with beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and harmful root parasitic plants. Canonical SLs, such as 5-deoxystrigol (5DS), consist of a tricyclic lactone ring (ABC-ring) connected to a methylbutenolide (D-ring). Although it is known that 5DS biosynthesis begins with carlactonoic acid (CLA) derived from beta-carotene, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of CLA remains elusive. Recently, we identified cytochrome P450 (CYP) CYP722C as the enzyme that catalyzes direct conversion of CLA to orobanchol in cowpea and tomato (Wakabayashi et al., Sci Adv 5:eaax9067, 2019). Orobanchol has a different C-ring configuration from that of 5DS. The present study aimed to characterize the homologous gene, designated GaCYP722C, from cotton (Gossypium arboreum) to examine whether this gene is involved in 5DS biosynthesis. Expression of GaCYP722C was upregulated under phosphate starvation, which is an SL-producing condition. Recombinant GaCYP722C was expressed in a baculovirus-insect cell expression system and was found to catalyze the conversion of CLA to 5DS but not to 4-deoxyorobanchol. These results strongly suggest that GaCYP722C from cotton is a 5DS synthase and that CYP722C is the crucial CYP subfamily involved in the generation of canonical SLs, irrespective of the different C-ring configurations.

Adenoviral vectors (AdVs) have attracted much attention in the fields of vaccine development and treatment for diseases such as genetic disorders and cancer. In this review, we discuss the utility of AdVs in cancer therapies. In recent years, AdVs were modified as oncolytic AdVs (OAs) that possess the characteristics of cancer cell-specific replication and killing. Different carriers such as diverse cells and extracellular vesicles are being explored for delivering OAs into cancer sites after systemic administration. In addition, there are also various strategies to improve cancer-specific replication of OAs, mainly through modifying the early region 1 (E1) of the virus genome. It has been documented that oncolytic viruses (OVs) function through stimulating the immune system, resulting in the inhibition of cancer progression and, in combination with classical immune modulators, the anti-cancer effect of OAs can be even further enforced. To enhance the cancer treatment efficacy, OAs are also combined with other standard treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) has mainly been explored to develop vectors for cancer treatment with different modulations. Only a limited number of the more than 100 identified AdV types were converted into OAs and, therefore, the construction of an adenovirus library for the screening of potential novel OA candidates is essential. Here, we provide a state-of-the-art overview of currently performed and completed clinic trials with OAs and an adenovirus library, providing novel possibilities for developing innovative adenoviral vectors for cancer treatment.